?60 FLOWER ARRANGEMENT

Flower Combinations. Large distinctive flowers usually look
best by themselves, but most flowers gain interest if arranged with
others. The following list suggests some combinations that have
a focal (or center of interest) material, an extending material, and
a transition material, which may, however, be omitted.

Focal Material.....Extending Material. Transition Material

(Do?ninmt) .......(Spikes. Curves) . .. (Background)

Tulips ............aPpk blossoms

Beet-red roses......blue salvia.........white daisies

Pink roses.........snapdragons .......gray foliage

Chrysanthemums . .. red berries.........pine foliage

Magenta stock.....corn flowers

Zinnias............oats ..............yellow yarrow

Talisman roses.....white lupine.......sweet peas

Calla lilies.........scarlet gladiolus

FOLIAGE AND BERRY ARRANGEMENTS

For the average busy housewife foliage provides the best ma-
terial for her semi-permanent everyday arrangements. Foliage
like Chinese evergreen, huckleberry, aspidistra, citrus, pittospore,
and rubber plant lasts many weeks; yew, ivy, and succulents last
for months. Flowers may be added to foliage arrangements;
for example, some philodendron leaves in a small round glass fish
bowl are graceful and form a pleasing setting for a temporary
hibiscus blossom. Arrangements of colorful croton, begonia, or
leucothoe leaves welcome the addition of berries or flowers in
similar hue. Bittersweet, cotoneaster, pyracantha, or pepper
berries add beauty to leaf arrangements. Nandina leaves are beau-
tiful with or without their berries.

A Modern effect is created by the use of the large central tub-
ular leaves from the century plant, the inner white leaves pro-
viding dramatic color contrast to the darker ones. Bold effects
can also be obtained in arrangements of elephant's ear, canna, or
paper plant leaves or by a great pot of colorful leaves. See pages
59, 223, and 350. Interesting foliage arrangements are created by
combining two or three varieties which are different in size and
shape, like pittospore, iris, and yew; or hen and chickens, agave
spikes, and cedar; or loquat, cycad, and pine. .